Ep 1. Pilot

Once Upon a Time is a TV show that aired on ABC from 2011 to 2018. The show is a fairytale drama that takes place in a small town in Maine called Storybrooke. The show centers around a group of fairytale characters who have been cursed by the Evil Queen and trapped in the real world with no memory of their past lives. The series follows their struggles to break the curse and find a way to return to their magical world.

The series begins with the first episode titled "Pilot," which introduces the main characters and sets up the premise for the show. The episode begins with a fairytale prologue that establishes the backstory of the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) and Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin). The Evil Queen is shown casting a powerful curse that sends all of the fairytale characters to the real world, where they are trapped without their memories.

We are then introduced to Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), a tough-as-nails bail bondsperson who lives in Boston. Emma is approached by a young boy named Henry Mills (Jared S. Gilmore), who claims to be her son, whom she gave up for adoption ten years ago. Emma is skeptical but decides to take Henry back to his hometown of Storybrooke, Maine, to meet his adoptive mother, Regina Mills (Lana Parrilla) - the mayor of the town.

On the drive to Storybrooke, Henry tells Emma all about the town and its residents, many of whom are characters from fairytales. He explains how Regina is the Evil Queen who has cursed everyone to live in the real world with no memory of their past lives. Henry believes that Emma is the only one who can break the curse because she is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas).

Once they arrive in Storybrooke, Emma meets Regina, who is initially hostile to her. Emma is also introduced to Mary Margaret Blanchard (Ginnifer Goodwin), a schoolteacher who Henry insists is Snow White. Emma is skeptical but begins to notice strange things happening in the town. People seem to be stuck in the same routines and behaviors, and nothing ever seems to change.

As the episode progresses, we see flashbacks to the fairytale world, where Snow White and Prince Charming are preparing to send their infant daughter, Emma, away to protect her from the Evil Queen's curse. The prince is killed in a battle, and Snow White is forced to send Emma away alone. In the present day, Emma reluctantly agrees to stay in Storybrooke for a few days to spend time with Henry.

As the episode comes to a close, Emma starts to believe that something strange is going on in the town. She begins to investigate and discovers that Regina has been sabotaging Mary Margaret's life and trying to control everything in the town. Emma resolves to stay in Storybrooke and help Henry break the curse, much to Regina's dismay.

As a fairytale fan, Once Upon a Time has the potential to be an enjoyable show. It balances the right amounts of charm, drama, and magic to keep viewers interested. "Pilot" sets up the premise for the show well, introduces the characters in an engaging way, and leaves plenty of room for future storylines. Overall, it's an exciting and promising start to the series.